R e p o r t FALL 2005 John Climer, editor From the Podium Dear Colleagues: has agreed to take on the vast responsibilities inherent in this po- sition. Tom joins Richard and Doug Stotter in keeping CBDNA I write as the tempo begins to increase for all of us as we move running on a day to day basis. We will discuss this transition in toward the end of the semester. I trust that this has been a good more detail in Chicago at the Forum meeting, and obviously there semester for you and that you have made plans to attend your will be several chances to express our appreciation to Richard divisional CBDNA conference! Those conference dates are listed Floyd for the strength of his contributions. I have never known in this Report and can be found on our website. Please also mark CBDNA without Richard as the Secretary. I count myself as very your calendars now, if you haven’t already, for the 2007 national fortunate to have worked side by side with him on the CBDNA conference, to be held in Ann Arbor March 28-31. Board as well as to have learned from him in a variety of settings. I know that in particular, all CBDNA presidents who have served There has been a great deal of activity regarding CBDNA of late. with Richard, as well as all members past and present owe him a The executive board met in Austin on September 30 and October huge debt of gratitude. All of us also appreciate the willingness 1 and were joined by the membership of the New Era Task Force and strong efforts of all of the individuals that make CBDNA the for two days of intensive discussion, debate and planning regarding unique volunteer organization that it has always been. the future course of CBDNA. I am very excited about our future, and I can tell you what you no doubt already know, that the future It is the time of year when all of us seem to be up to our eyeballs leadership of CBDNA will be extraordinary. Bill Wakefield and with all of the issues that somehow navigate their way to the desk- Tom Duffy will both bring exciting ideas and great energy to the top of the college band conductor. The many hats that we wear presidency, and I look forward to their wise leadership and to can begin to be a bit overwhelming as the crush of the semester’s working with them. close arrives. All the more reason to attend the Midwest Interna- tional Band and Orchestra Clinic December 13-17 at the Chicago Several issues that came from the Austin retreat will be discussed Hilton and Towers. The CBDNA Forum will take place Friday further by the entire Board in our Chicago meetings and will be afternoon from 4:30-5:30 PM, Friday Dec 16, Boulevard Room. brought to the membership. This is an exciting time for CBDNA as I look forward to seeing all of you there. we have arrived at a point when it is appropriate, and in fact quite necessary, to discuss allowing our presence in the profession and With respect, the reach of our activities to become even greater. I look forward to hearing the collective wisdom of our organization as we begin Jerry Junkin those discussions. At the close of 2007, our organization will face a major change with the appointment of Tom Verrier to the secretary position that has been held by Richard Floyd for the past quarter of a century. Richard’s contributions to CBDNA are too numerous to elaborate, but it is safe to say that it is quite possible that our organization would not exist, or might not exist in the vibrant manner that we In This Issue: now appreciate, without his remarkable service. A transition is now underway that will make for a seamless shift of the Secretary’s du- News ..............................................2 - 4 ties to Tom, who is “shadowing” Richard’s role during the course of this biennium. We are grateful that a person of Tom’s gifts Commissions and Premieres ......5 - 7 Divisional Conference Dates ............7 CBDNA Forum at Midwest Programs, State by State ............8 -14 Friday, December 16 4:30 - 5:30 PM Boulevard Room 2- NEWS FALL 2005 Robert Levy, former Director of Bands at Lawrence University NEWS (Appleton, Wisconsin) from 1979-2004 will be a Visiting Profes- CORNELL UNIVERSITY sor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the 2005-2006 academic year. He will also conduct the Wind Ensemble The Cornell University Wind Ensemble is touring Costa Rica in and serve as artistic director/conductor for the university’s Contem- January 2006. In addition to concerts in San Jose, Cornell musi- porary Chamber Ensemble. Their on-campus four concert season cians are traveling to the rural and humble community of Matapalo will feature visiting composers Gunther Schuller, John Harbison, to work with young Costa Rican musicians in a fledgling music and Dina Koston. school that desperately needs instruments. Cornell students are actively seeking donations of instruments to leave behind for these David Whitwell retired from California State University, North- young musicians. Bring the joy of music-making to a young Costa ridge in May 2005, and has moved to Austin, TX, where he is now Rican student by donating: woodwind and brass instruments in the conductor of the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble. any condition, mallet percussion, accessories (neck straps, mutes, mouthpieces, cases, tuners, unopened boxes of reeds, metronomes). Cash--for the purchase or repair of instruments. Please visit www. cuwinds.com or call Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner (607-255-3712) IN MEMORIAM for details. WARREN BENSON (1924-2005) COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY Submitted by Alan Wagner The Columbus State University Wind Ensemble, conductor Warren Benson, composer, conductor, educator, performer, and Robert W. Rumbelow announces three new commercial compact author, passed away on 6 October 2005. Born in Detroit in 1924, disc projects with Summit Recordings. “Velocity” has just been he studied percussion and French horn at Cass Tech High School released with Summit Recordings. “Electric Dawn” recorded in and completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Theory at 04-05 will be released in Spring 2006 and includes the premiere of the University of Michigan in 1951. He began performing profes- J.M. David’s Sinfonietta among other works by Prokofiev, Martinu, sionally at the age of fourteen in theater orchestras and big bands, Theofanidis, and others. This season’s CD project, “Visions,” will was the timpanist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1946, be with New York Philharmonic Principal Trombonist, Joseph and was offered the Philadelphia Orchestra timpanist’s position Alessi. This project will include another commissioned work by by Ormandy in 1948. composer J.M. David specifically for this February 2006 project, along with other premiere recordings of works by Ewazen, Ap- Don Sinta described Warren’s teaching as “a different style of permont, and others. teaching characterized by an inquiry into the student’s mind and an openness about providing challenge to that student.” As a young FROM RESOURCE TO E-SOURCE educator Warren held positions at the Brevard Music Center; Anatolia College in Salonica, Greece (funded by two successive Recently we have been in the process of updating our computer Fulbright Fellowships); and Mars Hill College in North Carolina. software (a daunting task!). One of the features of this software is He then taught percussion, composition, and theory at Ithaca Col- the ability to store customer e-mail addresses. With this feature, we lege (1953-1967) and composition at the Eastman School of Music plan to create our own special e-mailing list. One of the projects (1967-1994). During the 1960s he designed and implemented we have planned is the creation of the Shattinger Music E-Source two pilot programs for the Contemporary Music Project. His first Newsletter for wind band conductors. This newsletter would in- book, Creative Projects in Musicianship, was an outgrowth of these clude information on commissions and premieres, availability of projects. Other publications include his second book, . And My new works, information on new CDs and DVDs and important Daddy Will Play The Drums: Limericks for friends of drummers, information on new and interesting texts, an electronic Resource completed in 1999, and his 1987 WASBE conference address on or E-Source. The E-Source newsletter will be sent periodically as the “Aesthetic Criteria for Selecting an International Repertoire” information is made available and as news happens and therefore that was published by CBDNA. will be cutting edge, not available anywhere else--something you have come to expect from us. I’m sure you will want to be included Among his numerous accomplishments, we owe a unique tribute to in this special e-list. Send a short email (from the e-mail address Warren for his contributions toward the development of an artistic, you would like to have on record) with your customer number or aesthetically stimulating repertoire for the modern wind ensemble. school information stating that you would like to be included in Warren once said, “I write music for people: family, friends, the E-Source newsletter mailing. Please send to the address below professionals, and amateurs alike. It is to give us pleasure that we and we will update your account. We look forward to this exciting collaborate; not without serious commitment, exposure, and risk; opportunity to serve you. not without striving for genuine expression, new challenge, and fresh solutions worthy of the art.” For these reasons, he composed Jim Cochran-President, Shattinger Music nearly 150 works for wind ensembles, orchestras, choirs, soloists, [email protected] and chamber ensembles and is best known for his wind ensemble music and song cycles, many of which have been recorded.